of Vienna and Budapest barbarity forced me to a decision. I took counsel with individual political friends, for the parties as parties were suppressed. I took a trip to Vienna to talk with the more serious Austrian-Germans and found what they expected of the war, especially in case of victory; I was twice in Holland, I passed through Germany and there also I sought diligently information. In the middle of December 1914, I departed for Italy, then still neutral, and from there to Switzerland. I had hoped to return once more to Prague and communicate the information gained by me, but it was no longer possible. For a time I remained in Geneva and in the fall of 1915 I proceeded by way of Paris to London from whence I made frequent visits to Paris. In Paris the work was in charge of Dr. Beneš and General Štefánik, devoted, faithful and efficient co-workers. In May 1917 I had to go to Russia, from Russia I departed early in March by way of Siberia to Japan, through Japan to United States, and after seven months residence there I returned at the call of our government after a lapse of four years as the first president of the Czechoslovak Republic.
It was a strange, unexpected trip around the world, in reality a journey of information, gaining the entire Allied world for our national cause and for our political progress, the principal part of which was the disruption of Austria-Hungary and thereby the isolation of Germany, compelling it to remain content with its own national territory. Austria was Germany’s strongest card, but also its weakness.
We organized abroad all our emigrant colonies and inaugurated a well planned propaganda by personal contact and through the press and also diplomatic activities. But politics and especially revolution is impossible without money; in this our people in America and Russia helped. I declare here most emphatically that we never took a penny from the Allies: I emphasize this fact because our enemies talk of Russian, British and other gold; and I also declare that during all that time we have never employed a single falsehood against our enemies, not a single one of the so-called diplomatic tricks. Such honorable political fight, such honorable revolution I dare say has never before been carried out. It was clear to me that neither propaganda nor revolution at home and in the Austrian Army was sufficient, that we must have our own army. The first legions arose in France and Russia; soon volunteers came from all lands, from England, America, Canada, Africa, Australia. At first the units were small, but they grew with the increase of prisoners. This is true especially of Russia, where our captured men were very numerous.
The history of our army in Russia is the history of Russia during the war, at least the development of Russia is mirrored in the developments of our army. Here I can only say briefly that the old Stuermer regime discouraged the formation of a large army; Kerensky also was at first against us, until he found out that his offensive was to a large extent carried out by our three regiments and that our boys covered the fatal flight of the Russian army. Praise of the bravery of our army by Brusilov, Aleksejev and others, as well as by French and Italian military authorities, is well known.
After many attempts we finally managed to organize an army corps; I can say without boasting that organizing this army during the anarchy and the complete break-up of the Russian army is the best testimony to the maturity, not merely of our boys, but of the whole nation, for 100,000 men is enough to represent a nation. The army in Russia grew in the spring of this year to 50,000 men under arms, and 50,000 more had volunteered. This organizing ability and national discipline is exceeded only by their heroic heart, their love for liberty and fidelity to the nation.
I cannot refrain from asking you to render honor to the dear fallen boys, to our heroes in Russia, Dobrudja, France and Italy and on the Saloniki front, who made possible the present memorable meeting and our whole liberation. Nor let us forget the martyrs of the Hapsburg terror at home and the thousands upon thousands victims of the Russian internment, those that died in Murman and in Turkestan, all over the wide plains of unfortunate Russia, unable to care for the welfare of our captured men. And then the thousands that died during the flight across the Albanian mountains; Czech graves are found in all the belligerent countries.
It is but right that I should express gratitude and satisfaction for your conduct and political actions and those of the whole nation, Czechs and Slovaks. Perhaps my opinion, who as you know was not easily satisfied, has a certain weight, though we all agree that even criticism has its place.
Our army fighting on three fronts won our liberty for us. The history of our action abroad and especially the history of our army, its fights and heroism, the history of the Siberian anabasis—all this will be splendid educational material for our future generations. Here I can only sum up the results. And alongside of our fighting men many of our co-workers conducted the organization in all lands. The most work was naturally done in Russia, and I give thanks here to all the members of the Russian Branch of the Czechoslovak National Council, and remember especially the deceased general secretary, George Klecanda.
France was the first to recognize the significance of our nation for the Allies and for Europe in February 1916 and was the first to recognize our national council abroad. It recognized and maintained our army in France and later even in Russia, behaved toward us truly magnificently. Italy was always very friendly toward us;
